Moisture-supplying device for incubators.



'D. 0. LAGBR. 'MOISTURE SUPPLYING DEVICE FOR monnxroas.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT, 20, 1913.

1,1 18,783; Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

Witnesses f DAVE 0. LAGER, OF HELENA, MONTANA.

MOISTURE-SUPPLYING DEVICE FOR INCUIBA'IORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

Application filed Spptember 20. 1913. Serial No. 790,867.

fication.

The present invention relates to improvements in moisture supplying devices for in-.

cubators, one object of the present invention being the provision of an attachment adapted to be disposed in coactive relation I with the heating medium, whereby the desired air circulationfor ventilating is pen mitted Within the incubator and by means of which such air supplied will be of the desired humidity.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of an air supplying means mounted to surround the chimney of the lamp and have disposed therein an adjustable means for carrying moisture to the air V in transit.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the detail of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawingsFigure 1' is a longitudinal sectional view through an incubator with the present invention applied thereto, the present invention bein shown in section to illustrate the relatlve positions of the parts thereof. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the air supplying and himidifying device per se.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates an incubator, which is indicative of any form of incubator, which may be heated either by hot air, steam or water, the heating medium 2 being disposed in the upper end thereof and in the present instance indicating a hot water tank. The heating chamber 3 is provided with the supply conduit 4 leading to the tank 2 and with the return conduit 5, there being disposed concentrically of the chamber 3, the chimney 6, which is controlled, as is the usual practice, by means of the thermostatic means 7, thus providing a means for maintaining within the incubating chamber, the desired temperature. The chimney 7 of the lamp 8 is adapted to be extended into the lower end of the chimney 6, the same being supported 50 upon the platform 9, which is hingedly connected to the under side of the incubator at 10, a spring 11 being connected to the support 9 and constituting for the lamp, a resilient support. It IS essential, that the chamber be properly vent1lated,'and also at diilerent periods of 1ncubati0n that a certain amount of moisture be supplied, and therefore to more readily accomplish this, a chamber 12 is 7 constructed to surround the chimney 7 of the lamp so that the air entering the same through the supply or entrance conduit or pipe 13 will follow the direction of the arrows, being heated due to the heat of the chlmney 7 and passing according to the law of gravitation throu h the upstanding flue 14; and through the horizontal flue 15 and branches 15 into the interior of the incubatmgchamber. Any means for completing go the circuit of the air within the chamber may be rovided, it being preferable that ports sue as a and b be provided. It will thus be seen that with this construction the proper amount of air is permitted to enter the incubator, it being possible to provide adamper within the air conducting portions of the device to limit the flow therethrough as may be found necessary, it not being essential that such means be shown.

In order to supply moisture to produce the desired humidified air before the introduction thereof within the incubating chamber, a wick carrying member 16 seals the lower end of the flue 15 at its junction with the casing 12, the wick tubes 17 being constructed similarly to the usual lamp burner tubes or sleeves, and provided with the adjusting members 18 for the two wicks 19. These wicks 19 are disposed to have their lower cnds submerged within the water contained within the tank 20, which is disposed below the wick carrying member 16 and is open as at 21., so that water at any desired time may be poured therein without disturbing the mechanism. It will thus be seen that water by capillary attraction will be supplied to the upper end of the wicks 1'.) above the tubcs 17, and that therefore the heated air passing thcreabout as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1. will cause the water to evaporate and be carried with the air, the distance of projection of the upper ends of the wick regulating the amountof moisture supplied to the air and therefore regulating the humidity of the same according to theincubating process.

From the foregoing description, it is evident that with the humidified air supplying device as herein set forth, that the heat ing means for incubation, also causes the desired circulation of humidified and oxygen supplying air, to the incubating chamber so that such chamber will be kept clean and pure at all times and so that the necessary amount of moisture will be supplied to the eggs according to their state of incubation. Itis also evident that the present device may be used in connection with electrical heatingdevices as well as gas or oil lamps, it simply being necessary that the chamber 12 be so disposed as to permit of the proper heating of the air so that the desired circulation thereof within the incubating chamher is produced.

What is claimed is: t

1. The combination'with a lamp and a lamp chimney, of means for humidifying the heated air passing about the chimney, including a drum surrounding and carried by the chimney, said drum having a lower inlet port, and an upper outlet port, said ports being disposed upon opposite sides of the drum, a pipe connected to the outlet port and extending radially from the drum, a cylindrical member open at its lower end and connected at one side intermediate of its ends to the pipe, said cylindrical memfor furnishing the artificial heat her being in communication with the drum through the pipe and having an air outlet adjacent its top at the opposite side to the pipe, a wick carrier insertible in the lower open end of the cylindrical 'member, and a water receptacle attached to the drum and below the wick carrying member to feed water to the Wick carried by such member.

2. The combination with a lamp and a lamp chimney, of means for humidifying the heated air passing about the chimney, including a drum surrounding and carried by the chimney, said drum having a lower inlet port and an upper outlet port, said ports being disposed upon opposite sides of the drum, a pipe connected to the outlet port and extending radially from the drum, a cylindrical member open at its lower end and connected at one side intermediate of its ends to the pipe, said cylindrical member being in communication with the drum through the pipe and having an air outlet adjacent its top at the opposite side to the pipe, a cap fitting upon the lower open end of the cylindrical member, a wick carried thereby, means for adjusting the ,wick to dispose the same within the lowei end of the cylindrical member, and a water reservoir disposed below for receiving the Wick. In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signa ture in the presence of two witnesses.

DAVE O. LAGER.

Witnesses J. H. BRASS, EMILY MILoH. 

